Monday, June 15, 2009

I am chuffed to bits at the news that my O. Henry parody, The Gift of the Magic Lump of Coal, has been selected by the discerning and ever-esteemed Maxim Jakubowski, editor nonpareil, for inclusion in his prestigious anthology, The Mammoth Book of Best New Erotica 9, a showcase of literary finery. (Of course, my story will first be translated into proper English.) The annual volume, containing works by over 40 writers -- both established and "new" voices -- will be published across the pond by Constable & Robinson (January 2010), followed likewise in the US of A by Running Press. I am most humbled and honored to be in this respected collection once again. 'Tis my supreme pleasure, Maxim! Thank you!

Donna took the word right out of my mouth (I wondered whose fingers those were): "The Gift of the Magic Lump of Coal" is indeed a classic! So terrific that it will be bundled and disseminated in the Mammoth collection. Congrats!!

Thank you, Elise. One submits. Maxim Jakubowski puts out an annual call. This year I think the deadline was end-May. The call is listed every year on the Erotica Readers & Writers Association (ERWA) website, on their Call for Submissions page.

That said, Mr. Jakubowski is also known to spelunk for material online in addition to what people send him via the Post, on erotica websites as well as places not strictly of that genre. (Stories published on personal websites/blogs do not qualify for the anthology, btw.) He is idiosyncratic and impossible to second-guess, both qualities that tend to result in an interesting compendium of reading matter, in my humble opinion.